1. sports
2. canoeing and kayaking

Hi all
Welcome to the winter wrap newsletter, at least, according to the calendar, that was winter we just had.
This is the first of a quarterly down wind newsletter to keep you up to date with what is happening in the
downwind world and to introduce you to some of your fellow paddlers and what they have been doing for
entertainment over winter. Thanks to all who have contributed, I have had to trim here and there as this newsletter
was getting big enough to stun an ox. There is lots of intriguing things happening with down wind paddling and
we’re hoping for an endless summer of good windy sessions, lets just hope the doctor puts in more of a show this
year.
Responsibility
One of the biggest issues is that there has been a lot of talk that the person organising a downwind paddle is
opening themselves up to legal liability if anything goes wrong. Two documents have been developed by Canoeing
Australia and Surf Life Saving detailing the difference between recreational paddling and organised events, please
take the time to read these if you are planning on doing any down wind paddling this summer.
Firstly, recreational paddling;
There is a document dealing with downwind paddling and other paddling sports that take place at a recreational
level, with the exception of the term “Quasi” that they felt the need to slip in, this document pretty much says that
we should not paddle alone, we should know who is on the paddle and that we are all pretty much responsible for
ourselves.
It seems from this that we can get together as a group and do a downwind run without the person sending out the
email being liable. The purpose of the email is to get like minded individuals together rather than paddling alone.
This document can be found here: http://oceanpaddling.org.au/wp‐content/uploads/2011/09/Recreational‐
Paddling‐Guide‐FINAL‐V2.pdf
Events
A document has also been developed dealing with events, this defines an event as happening when money is paid or
registration takes place.
This document can be found here: http://oceanpaddling.org.au/wp‐content/uploads/2011/09/Recreational‐Ocean‐
Paddling.pdf
Proposed Weekly Downwind training sessions
The plan is to set Wednesday and Friday as downwind days if there is a wind, we are looking at doing most of
our runs from City/Swanbourne/Cottesloe to Sorrento, with a possible short run option from Trigg or
Scarborough for the unfit or those new to downwind paddling.
Start time will vary as the sessions are set to start in September and start time will get steadily later as the
sunset gets later.
Blast Paddling
We have been discussing with Blast paddling to set up a site for “Perth Paddlers”
This will be one place where you can load your details for downwind timed sessions.
This will be for all Perth paddlers regardless of which, if any club that you belong to, the number that you are
allocated will be the number that you use for all timed sessions. This number can then be put on your bib or on
your boat.
Your results will be emailed to you
Next of kin information should anything happen to you
Type of boat you paddle
Spring Training
City Beach: Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6:00am and Saturday at 7:00am
Friday Arvo: time of our usual downwind, a few of us get together for a paddle, waiting for the doctor to come in at
which point they will change to downwinds.
Thursdays UWA to Herisson Island return, 5:30pm on the water with Di
Several years ago a few paddlers decided to do a distance paddle together once a week, and as the slowest paddler
who didn't want to be left off the invite list, Di Arnott decided she better organise this. In April this year the group got a
massive injection of new paddlers when the Ascot Kayak Club group found out about the session, and the promised
'rough' conditions.
The Ascot crew have completely jinxed it however and the river is almost always a mill pond on Thursday
nights. Occasionally we get as many as 18 people at a paddle, and I think they've all even made it back to the start. Di
Arnott
Interclub Downwind Challenge
This Summer will hopefully see the inaugural inter club downwind challenge to be held between City beach down wind
paddlers, Sorrento down wind paddlers and Mandurah down wind paddlers. This will be for “club” honours and points are
awarded per paddler and position.
The plan is to have 6 down wind runs, 2 to be hosted by each club, we are looking at doing this as informally as possible,
something like a competitive training session more than an official event. The idea being to paddle and train with the locals
to learn more about local conditions. (so we can beat the Mandurah paddlers in the duel ;‐) ).
At this stage we are looking at doing this as a series of timed recreational paddles without becoming a “quasi”
organisation, a bit of a challenge. Thanks to the team below for their efforts in getting this to fly.
MUD
Di
Gary
Em
Pssst Mud, did you notice how I stretched your picture to make you look fat?
Development runs:
For those new to downwind paddling we are looking to do short runs from Trigg to Sorrento, this is a 5km run, done
with competent coaches in suitable conditions, including remounts etc. It would be advisable for new folk to do these
in stable craft. Let me know if you are interested.
The Retro Classic
On the 15th of December, you need to bring out your old spec ski, get into your 70’s kit – baggies, Archie sandals and
bushy, bushy blonde hairdos. We’ll be holding a run finishing at either Sorrento or City Beach where the most kitsch
ski will be judged along with the best dressed paddler. Get on the web, you can haggle yourself a really gnarly unit for
about $250.00, tart it up, sorry – “pimp your ride” and get down to the beach for a fun run. Food and drink will be
available and the family is welcome, more details will follow later.
Mud is already taking the piss out of my efforts and has threatened to order some tele tubbies stickers to put all over
my ski.
Got $365:00 lying around? We’ve organised a cracker of a deal to hook you up with a gorgeous Epirb
Have a look here: http://www.kannadmarine.com/en/safelink‐solo‐plb
NOTE: There is no truth to the rumour that the department of fisheries has organised this deal for us as a way to help
them track sharks, that’s just nasty!
Email me at
garymaughan@fastmail.fm
If you are interested
Time trials and the ladder
We are looking at putting together a few time trials this summer, a few will be flat water and a few will be downwind
runs, the results of these will go onto a ladder that will be used to categorise paddlers into groups A, B or C. This will
then be used for seeding paddlers in downwind runs and working out the best time gap between the groups. There is
reference in the insurance documents to experience and capability, this is the best way to show and prove yours.
First timed paddle will be on Saturday 22nd September starting at 7:15am from City beach with a run to Cottesloe
and back (12km). Only those listed on the Blast Perth Paddlers web site will be timed – more on this soon
Sadly I wont be seeing
such a high ranking this
year, with Deane Gilmour
over his cloudy shoulder
and looking to be in fine
form, then there’s Raf, I
paddled with him in some
training over winter, or
should I say behind him.
With Mud not falling out
every 500m he looks to be
a challenge as well. As for
Shane Caddy, now that
the honeymoon is
over……….
I think I’m a shoe in
for the Sir Hiss
award for the
paddler who has
dropped the most
places on the
ladder, not because
I’ve been slack, but
far too many of you
have been working
far too hard, bad
form on your part in
my opinion ;-)
As you can see, only 20 people got out there last season to claim a spot, there were more but I got a little snowed
later in the season. So get out there and join us for a time trial, get yourself a spot on the ladder and then start
climbing or sliding as the case may be.
I have added more names to this years ladder……………...so suck that sigh of relief back up and start training!
These sessions are open to all who are keen on downwind paddling and would like to get a time and category to
ensure that they are paddling in a group of their paddling peers.
Mauritius - Andrew Crothers
The Mauritius Ocean Classic, or the Island Shamaal, or that Sweet Ocean Race
that has the “all you can drink” beers as I like to call it.
This is definitely one of the best set up races I’ve ever been in, the flight from Perth, when not delayed on
the tarmac, should be about 8 hours and sitting amongst other paddlers it’s a pretty exciting vibe (also where I
caught the dreaded man Flu). Once you land the hotel staff grab your things and it’s off on a very bumpy slow bus
ride through a never ending sugarcane plantation, the hotel staff are friendly and show us to our very comfy suites.
As we did the Wednesday to Wednesday package this meant the Shorty’s downwind dash was first thing on the
agenda… right after a full sample of the buffet breakfast!
So a quick walk/waddle to the beach where my shiny new Fenn SL’s waiting to be paddled and a chat to the
guys at the resort boathouse and I’m all entered and ready to race. The race starts off the resorts beach inside the
reef and makes its way out through the channel and along the coast to Le Morne Pass “a huge mountainous rock
thing you can’t miss just follow someone else in though as the waves can be a bit hectic” my friend tells me. Sounds
easy enough “oooww look there’s Hank McGreggor that’s Dawid Mocke that’s Jeremy Cotter oh and that’s guy from
Perth that always beats me”.
The race was fine, a little flatter
than I’d hoped which is weird because
the waves on the reef break were
HUGE! Once inside the break a short
paddle up to the finish were it looked
like they had the beach set up for a
wedding waiting for us smelly, salty
paddlers to devour Pheonix beers and
fried rice while swapping stories. Then,
just like magic, your ski got picked up
and taken back to the hotel while we
watched the presentations. Then we
hop on a bus back to the hotel and eat
more food and drink more beer… near
a pool… bliss!
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The remaining days were spent relaxing and checking out the rest of the
island there’s a bit of shopping to do but the prices aren’t that much different to
home. The best thing is mingling with the other paddlers and getting to know
them outside of a race environment.
A really great holiday probably not the one for the single lads looking to
party more one where parents let the kids run free while knocking back a couple
of jungle juices.
Avon Descent – Andrew Crothers
Avon descent, well I knew I was in trouble when I looked across the start line and saw Bill Bain, Chris Aglich, Travis
England and even Mark Hardie all sitting in long plastics. Already pretty bummed out about the water levels and
lack of training now I was downright depressed.
Off and racing and Northam weir was actually looking to be the better option as dozens of double plastics struggled
to get their boats out of the water. A slip and slide and a trip and bump and a few sorry’s later and I was watching
Travis slowly paddle away from me, a few grinding holts on sand bars and a few more plastics float by this is pretty
much the routine for the whole first day suffice to say I’d regretted entering and was ready to quit paddling
altogether.
The second day started
out better as I ran around
a few K2 logjams and was
able to make up ground on
people trying to delicately
dodge rocks on shallow
rapids, I on the other hand
was doing my best to
wreck my boat in the
hopes I’d have to pull out
but damn it they build
those boats too well! Just
when I’d resigned myself
to the fact that I would
have to finish this stupid
race somebody had the
brilliant idea to set
powerboats off just as we
were hitting the last of
rapids. So I apologise to
the spectators who might
have over heard a few of
my profanities as power
boats cut off paddlers at
every corner only to get stuck at the very next channel or rapid.
I’ll spare you the final 30kms as this is the most agonizing 3 hours of my life as I tried in vain to get blood to my left foot and
watched my g.p.s. slow to a crawl. To sum up I’d wished I’d trained more, but after it’s all said and done it is an amazing
feeling when you cross that finish line and it sticks with you all year. A huge thanks to my support crew for helping me get
through.
Guadeloupe – Ruth Highman
Where’s that?? Come on - admit it - that was your 1st thought. Well you are not alone - I too had to look it up in the
trusty atlas (what's an atlas did I hear u say - it's a book with maps in it!) I felt slightly less ignorant when I went to my
travel agent and said I had to book flights to Guadeloupe, she too said "Where's that?" and proceeded to look it up (she
used the web though!).For those of you with out a trusty atlas or web close by, Guadeloupe is an island located in the
Southern Caribbean. It is a French island, so although geographically closer to South, Central or southern North
America, you fly to Guadeloupe from Paris. So the epic flight voyage of Perth to Singapore (6hrs) to Paris (14hrs) to
Guadeloupe (8.5hrs) was needed. If I was going to spending nearly 30hrs flying, I decided I needed to spend at least
3weeks away to justify it. So, then the question of "what else do i want to see/do whilst on the other side of the world?" aarrr so many possibilities!!
After looking through various travel brochures & trolling the internet, I decided that I'd spend a few days in Paris to break
the trip (I'd never been to France), then on to Guadeloupe to race, spend some time looking around Guadeloupe, & then
back to France where I would join a 1 wk cycling/canal barge tour through the Loire Valley, before heading back to
Perth.
Landing in Paris the first thing that struck me was how cold it was. Here it was at the end of Spring (late April) &
maximum daytime temperatures were 9-10 degrees (colder than winter in Perth). I had NOT packed for these
temperatures, so went to the shops hoping to find snow fleeces, warm trousers/ fleece lined pants, gloves & beanies &
was astounded to find the shops full of singlets & shorts & sandals - my response "ARE YOU KIDDING ME - STEP
OUTSIDE - IT'S FRICKING FREEZING!". But I guess the French are more concerned with fashion than functionality.
So, I resorted to layering on every piece of clothing in my suitcase - long sleeved thermal, long sleeved T-shirt, followed
by jumper, followed by jacket (I had packed a soft-shell jacket for the cycling tour - but it became a daily essential). I had
packed a pair of cycling gloves, so they also became a daily wear. On the bottom, it was leggings followed by jeans, 2
pairs of socks with Birkenstocks. Needless to say I didn't look like I'd stepped out of the fashion pages of a French
fashion magazine - but at least I staved off the frost bite - couldn't say I was warm though. I then proceeded to explore
Paris.........well I can say that Paris is a beautiful city - for me to say that is saying something (I am NOT a city person &
have always preferred exploring rural areas/ villages/ towns/ wilderness as my experience is that "a cities, a city".)
Following 3 days in Paris, it was off to Guadeloupe to defrost. I was rooming with a French paddler & thankfully she
spoke good English. Having spent 3 days in Paris & having no-one to speak to, it was nice to be able to speak to
someone. She & I & the other 3 French paddlers were to become good friends over the next 9 days together. The race
week was well organised, & whilst everyone stayed at various locations, we'd meet up at the marina each day to have a
paddle - there’s was some wind, but nothing by our standards, but we had fun surfing the small break over the reef out
from the marina. It was quite hot & humid during the middle of the day, & whilst I didn't find it too bad - the Frenchies
struggled.
Come race day, & it was the
realization that a long HOT,
HUMID, WINDLESS, 26km
lay ahead of me - but hey
I'm an expert in these
conditions (think Mauritius
2010, think Doctor 2012 &
Doctor 2011 to a lesser
extent). The course was to
paddle back from one of the
off lying islands (Desirades)
back to the mainland.
Ruth on Pointe des Chateaux with Desirades in the background
A ferry ride over to the island & then off we set, crossing the channel (10km or so) between the island & the
mainland, the ocean swell pushed through perpendicular to the course, so there was no assistance there - but you kept
pushing as you thought "it will get easier when you get across the channel & the swell wraps around the point & comes
more behind" - aaarrrr the mind games we play!
I put on an unplanned 500m sprint, when a WHALE (yes - you read right) surfaced about 20m to the side of me - it put
the wind up me (the only wind I experienced for the entire race), as I had visions of him resurfacing again underneath
me, or - like that infamous internet picture - the whale breaching & landing on me! I finally got across the channel, only
to then have to paddle through about 1.5km of confused washing machine water (think Hillary's wall during storm
conditions) as the swell reflected of the headland, wrapped around it, & did a triple somersault in the piked position.
Now we had about 10km to go & this was the bit that had kept me going, because it was going to get easier now WRONG!! Well girl, it's just going to be another long hard slog - so get on with it. Just to put the icing on the cake, the
final 5km was THICK with weed - for all of you who paddle EPICS, you'll know what weed collectors they are - so every
few hundred metres it was stop, back paddle to clear the weed & then off again. We'd been told it was a 24km course when my GPS clicked over to 24km - I was tempted to bail out then & there - in the middle of the weedy soup - but I
pushed on. I finally finished the race (26km), rolled out of my boat & just floated (now I know why we wear life jackets) lucky it was not whaling season or else I may have been harpooned! I crossed the finish line some 11mins ahead of the
next female paddler (my French room mate - Angie Mouden - watch out for her - 2 months later in Mauritius she had
improved to such an extent that I only beat her by 2mins!!).
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Avon – Bae Hooper
Not usually a winter paddler, but after listening to all the camaraderie last year from people going up for practice runs
I thought I would give it a go this year... lo and behold no practice water so not many social paddles prerace!
Basically as I had already made the decision to do it that meant I was committed. That was reason 1. Reason 2 is
that I was diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma in February this year, I kinda new something was wrong during
last years Anaconda solo, I had done the training but I had no ‘zing’ on the day, instead I was pretty knackered
through the whole race, and the lumps in the various parts of my body didn’t help!!
Anyway I couldn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t keep training during my treatment, and the doctor said it was ok. It
certainly gave me a good excuse to buy myself a present of new ski! I did not put massive hours into training and stuck
to a routine of about 3 paddles a week mixed with running, yoga and strength and just kept tuned into how I was
feeling and having lots of rests if I felt tired. I was told I was going to get the full chemo (instead of the part chemo I
had been receiving) so I asked if I could put it off to until the week after the Avon! With much duress the doctor
agreed... hehe. Therefore for the last month I did not even think about my cancer, only about preparations for the
race....
I made it through the race and even came in
5th solo girl which I am bit chuffed about
considering quite minimal training really. I
found the hardest thing about the race was
the early mornings and organising a support
crew!!
A few weeks prior to the race I got another
Ct scan, and my lumps looked like they were
going down. Very positive news and having
to do full chemo came into question, and
now a few weeks after the race I have had a
bone marrow test as well and my blood
looks clear, so no crazy chemo for me! The
type of lymphoma I have will will never go
away however if I manage it correctly and
not let it get out of control I’ll be ok.
So do I say thankyou to the Avon Descent
for my positive results....?
bae ; )
AVON – Pete Johnson
As a relative novice of downwind paddling, it was pleasing to hear of the effort being put in by various people
here in WA to establish some more structure in this sport. I’m particularly keen to develop my skills by
training and racing like-minded individuals. During the last downwind season there were many more paddlers
giving it a go so hopefully there will be enough support to get this off the ground.
Wait till you see his downwind technique!
I’ve personally been
paddling now for
almost 5 years. I began
so I could compete in
adventure races but
paddling quickly
became my favourite
discipline. I remember
reading about
downwind paddling on
the internet so one day
I give it a try. It was an
amazing although
frustrating experience,
catching runners was
not as easy as it
appears. I also tried
this alone which is a
big safety no-no. I was
hooked.
Not long after this I watched the 2008 Avon Descent at Bells Rapids. I realised right then I wanted to be involved
so the very next year I gave it a go. The first time was quite a mission. Rapids, trees, moving water, nutrition,
hydration, all things I hadn’t had to consider to this scale in the past. I bent a boat in half during training but I soon
learnt the power of the flowing water. I’ve now done 4 Descents and each result has been an improvement on the
last.
Despite the long distance of the Descent and some of the other flat water races, I still think river paddling is easier
than the downwind variety. The extra variable of the runners in the ocean is the key. This is a skill I want to
develop and I hope that over summer I can make some improvements.
People often ask me why I paddle.
Why do I wake up before some have
even gone to bed? Why do I spend
money on these toys? Why do I
sometimes skip after work drinks to
paddle? There are the fitness benefits
but the primary reason is enjoyment. I
enjoy being on the ocean in a cranking
South Wester. I enjoy the interval
training and banter with people I call
my friends. I enjoy the occasional
solitude on offer. I enjoy paddling.
Avon Decent 2012
A bone dry Avon was on the cards and for the two teams I was training and doing transport for things were looking
grim
A little bit of background info; I was originally going to paddle in a double team with Gary but due to too many
holidays and a AC injury, that wouldn’t go away I placed myself in the too unfit and wimping out category.
Luckily about the same time Mike’s young fella pulled out leaving Mike without a paddle, I seized my
opportunity told Gary I was out and Mike was in. I breathed a sigh of relief but to make up for being a girly man
I offered to do transport for both teams an offer that was quickly snapped up. Tricia and Em were also training
hard to paddle the ‘Bus’’ down the Avon a rather large and heavy double ski that went like a rocket on flat water
but would certainly be a handful doing three point turns around the tea trees.
Training was one and a half hours Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoon with Gary calling the shots (or
trying to over the constant chatter) with Saturday morning’s and the odd Sunday thrown in. Everyone was in
peak physical condition and ready to go but as time crew close it looked like Mother Nature wasn’t going to play
the game giving us one of our driest July’s ever and a river that looked more like a stream and rapids that
resembled a rock obstacle course. The talk at training turned from how quick are we going to paddle to I wonder
if we will start at all.
In the week prior to the race there were more emails pinging around than carbon tax hate mail, river levels were
being discussed, weather charts and rail fall predictions were being analyzed, rain was forecast but would it even
run off into the river. What are we going to do? The girls were making plans for a long lunch on Saturday, Gary
had all but pulled the pin but Mike was steadfast and going to paddle no matter what. We will make a decision
Tuesday no Wednesday no Thursday. At the last Wednesday training Em had given starting a mere five percent
chance so things weren’t looking good. The decision was finally made Thursday night over a beer or two I think
Mike put his foot down and told them to harden up, the girls (including Gary) had the ‘If it’s no good we can pull
out Sunday’ clause but I don’t think Mike was going to have any of that.
Saturday morning 5:15 am it’s cold, it’s dark, it’s raining? It’s been raining hard all night, a glimmer of hope
was starting to appear. The girls had taken the skis up on Friday arvo and were chucking their gear in my car
then on our way to pick up the Merry Men at Mikes house. The drive up was full of high spirits, constant chatter
and some frequent belching from one of the teams members whose nerves were getting the better of them. Our
arrival was greeted with some pretty flashing lights in my revision mirror courtesy of the local plod who were
using the influx of ‘Perthies’ to get their numbers up, a quick squiggle in his pad, a ticket chucked in my glove
box and a few mumbled swear words later and we were off to the race start.
The race start was very uneventful, especially for one paddler who did the shortest leg ever, one hundred meters
down to the weir, then he was on the bank walking home. I think it would have been easier just not starting.
Day one was incident free, the river level wasn’t the best but still do-able. There were sections where paddling
wasn’t an option and carrying your ski down the river was the only way. This wasn’t too bad for Mike and Gary
as the singles didn’t weigh much but for Tricia and Em with the Bus weighing in at 45kg it was a bit of a
handful. Trees and tight corners were also a pain for the long double with many three point turns having to be
executed but I think the girls copped more grief about their splendid tiaras mounted on their helmets (kindly
donated by Dave Caley) than anything else. The only real grumbles were the log jam of skis going down the
shallow rapids, all it took was for the first person to fall then all behind would plough into them or grind to a
halt.
A big thanks to Dave Caley for coming up on Saturday and helping the girls, my job was to swap Gary and
Mike out at each leg but also fuel up the Girls with food and drink which was proving harder to do into the day
as their times became separated. Dave stepped in and made sure the Girls were well looked after – Cheers Dave.
The Girls made Cobblers Pool (end of day one) around 2.00 up the pointy end of the field with Mike about half
and hour behind them, with no damage to their skis it was time to get changed and head home. Good old Mother
Nature timed the longest and heaviest shower of the day just as they were getting changed, Em bolted into to car
and Tricia found a big tree where their beach honed skills of getting changed inside a towel proved invaluable.
Home by 4.30 Perfect
Day Two –
Its wasn’t a good sign when at 4.45am Tricias first comment upon arriving was “I don’t really feel like doing this I hope Em
doesn’t turn up’’ then five minutes later was ‘Damn she’s turned up” I think the head cold Tricia had been fighting off all
week was catching her and a good sleep rather than a long paddle was needed. Pick up Gary and Mike then back up the hill
for round two.
The girls were first to set off with Mike about 20mins behind them, first stop Emu falls then Stronghills Farm, apart from the
girls deciding to go down one set of rapids separately with Tricia having to swim for five mins while Em struggled to free
the ski from shallow rocks and the usual dragging the ski along the river bed, all was good. A quick crew change for Mike &
Gary some food and drink for the Bus drivers then off to Bells.
The girls had organised Linda (big thanks to Linda) to come up crew for them from Bells down to the finish so with food
bags, paddles and drinks ready we waited. Mike was primed and ready to go, all eyes on the river waiting, then Mike said
“who’s that down the other side of the rapids, it looks like Gary.” “Naar couldn’t be I’ve been watching” I said. Then two
minutes later standing behind us with a broken paddle was Gary mumbling obscenities at us (there were kids around).
Gary’s paddle had snapped on his last stroke before the rapids – perfect timing. Mike made a quick dash to his ski and
down a very shallow Bells, bouncing off every rock he could find.
The Bus pulled in about 15 mins later with about 75mm of its nose missing (but expertly taped up). The Girls had headbutted a rock at full steam and stopped dead with a deafening crunch (the Bus doesn’t steer that well) so a quick deviation to
shore, out with the gaffa tape and back in the race in no time, so more food and lollies and off again. Bells to the finish was
going to be a long hard slog, the slow moving river had already extracted most of their energy and was determine to take
what was left.
The last change was Middle Swan, Gary and Mike did their usual swift flawless change and Linda fueled up the girls with
Vegemite sandwiches, so after a refuel, lollies and drink, off they pushed for the last leg home. Gary had the last leg and
had cruised home in usual Gary style while the girls had a different story. They both lost feeling in their gluteus maximums
and legs. Ems back started to seize up she tried the old one leg extended paddling technique but that didn’t work so they had
to pull over to a river bank where she could stretch it out. About 15 mins from the end Tricia hit the wall her body had used
up the last of its energy and went into survival mode she just had enough left to make it home.
Gary crossed the finish line knackered but paddling strong with the Bus about 20 mins behind, when the girls hit the beach
they were gone, Emily had enough energy for a smile after a couple of mins had recovered, but Tricia was a different story, I
don’t think I have seen anyone that shattered after any sporting event, talking to her reminded me of a old David Bowie
song, Ground control to Major Tom your coming through in waves or something like that, the lights were on but nobody
was home, getting her to walk 100 meters to the car was a major accomplishment. After some food and a coke she slowly
came back around but for a while there she was on her own little planet.
Once the skis were inspected for damage and loaded on the roof, a change of clothes and off to the beer tent for a well
deserved ale or two. Mid strength only! My god the old Avon paddlers would be turning in their graves, no more massive
tent piss ups where drinking stopped an hour before the morning race start at Cobblers and no real beer at the finish looks
like the do-gooders are making sure we all do what is ‘best’ for us.
Bruises and blisters were compared, stories of bouncing down rapids being told and the ‘well that’s the last Avon for me’
were heard from a couple of pounders, then at 5.30pm last round was called and we were kicked out and told to go home,
not a very fitting end to a very brutal couple of days of paddling. We will wait and see once the pain and memory of this
one has lapsed who will be around to go back down the Avon again next year.
We heard nothing about this until the photos came out….
Who got rescued in a waterless Avon??
Western Mudd Rush 2012 (Not to be confused with “Mud” Rush)
On Sunday 19 August, 5 intrepid souls (Captain America, Ali G, Prepubescent Cheerleader,
Witchy Woman, and Tough Guy) plus one less crazy supporter (Trish) ventured forth into the
mud and horse poo at the State Equestrian Centre. Excitement ran high at the thought of 8km
and 18 obstacles (plus lots of mud). Some may have been more motivated by the free beer
and hotdog at the end.
Witchy Woman, Prepubescent Cheerleader, Tough Guy, Ali G, Captain America
There was barbed wire and cargo nets to crawl under (in mud of course), horse jumps, hay
bale stacks, and rolling barrels to go over, ice baths to plunge into, mudslides to slip down,
and the final biggie (once everyone had become covered in mud/horse pooh head to toe) a 3m
wall to be scaled. Despite torn pants (they were too small to start with), obscenely short skirts
(who wanted to be behind that for the hay tunnel crawl?), rappers that struggled to get outta
da house, inconveniently long sleeves ( not good with barbed wire), and crowd adulation
(especially from Miss America), we did it!!!
final
t he
e
r
Befo
wall
The haybale stack
After the race we feasted on beer, some more beer, and hotdogs. Everyone ponged to high
heaven. The horse showers soon set us right, and we got to reflect on a fun day, and laugh at
the unsuspecting (clean) people yet to start. At the end of the day, Gary did a Gary, and we
found him back at the car. Car ride home was supplemented with beers - big thanks to Trish
for driving! What an awesome, fun, muddy day.
The Mudder Whatters
Em Chetwin, Gary Maughan, Mud Contessi, Nicole Bailey, Rod Davison (& Trish Gilbert)
And it’s no, nay never…..
No, nay, never, no more……
Will I paddle down the Avon..
NO
NEVER
NO MORE!!!!!!
What
He
Said.